Arrangement for the manual adjustment of a focus position on microscopes

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to an arrangement for manual adjustment of a focus position in microscopes with a motor-operated focusing drive. According to the invention, the arrangement has a first operator&#39;s control for giving an adjusting path length and a second operator&#39;s control for giving an adjusting speed. The two operator&#39;s controls are preferably constructed as rotating knobs. An adjusting path length for the focusing movement is given by the rotational angle at the first rotating knob, and an adjusting speed of the focusing movement is given by the rotational angle at the second rotating knob. The change in the rotational angle at the first rotating knob is proportional to the change in the adjusting path and the change in the rotational angle at the second rotating knob is proportional to the change in the adjusting speed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of PCT Application Ser. No.PCT/EP01/14916, filed Dec. 18, 2001 and German Application No. 101 01623.9, filed Jan. 16, 2001, the complete disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

The invention is directed to an arrangement for the manual adjustment ofa focus position in microscopes with a motor-operated focusing drive.

b) Description of the Related Art

An essential prerequisite for observation through a microscope is theadjustment for the sharpness of the specimen section to be observed. Inthe classic microscope design, the focusing movement required foradjusting the sharpness of a specimen section to be observed is realizedby means of gear units which have high gear ratios and a highsensitivity of adjustment.

The focusing movement can be initiated manually, for example, by turninga drive knob which transmits the rotational movement via a spindle-nutadjusting device to the stage or to the microscope housing andaccordingly causes a relative movement between the microscope body andspecimen.

However, in other common focusing arrangements the positioning of thespecimen relative to the microscope body is realized by a stepping motorwhich is controlled in a definite manner. Both the adjusting speed andadjusting path are determined by the control. The invention described inthe following also belongs to this technical field. The speed of thefocusing movement and of the adjusting path in a desired direction ofthe focusing movement are given by control commands by means ofoperator's controls which are actuated manually.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the primary object of the invention to provide an ergonomicallyfavorable construction of the operator's controls and, accordingly, asensitive triggering of the adjusting commands.

According to the invention, the arrangement for adjusting a focusposition has a first operator's control for giving an adjustingdirection and an adjusting path and a second operator's control forgiving an adjusting speed.

Both operator's controls are preferably constructed as rotating knobs;the rotational angle at the first rotating knob determines an adjustingpath length for the focusing movement and the rotational angle at thesecond rotating knob determines an adjusting speed of the focusingmovement. The change in the rotational angle at the first rotating knobis proportional to the change in the adjusting path and the change inthe rotational angle at the second rotating knob is proportional to thechange in the adjusting speed. The direction of the focusing movement isgiven by the rotating direction of the rotating knobs.

In a particularly preferred construction, the two rotating knobs arearranged so as to be rotatable concentrically around a common axis andare arranged directly one behind the other on this axis, and thediameter of the first rotating knob is smaller than the diameter of thesecond rotating knob. Both rotating knobs are connected to the operationand control device of the microscope by a control circuit or byactuating members for generating actuating signals depending on therotational angle.

This results in a substantial advantage over arrangements known in theprior art, since focusing and fine focusing are made possible easily andin a sensitive manner without a noticeable expenditure of force. Anotheradvantage consists in that it is not necessary to change one's grip whenturning the rotating knobs, e.g., in order to realize large adjustingpaths.

The first rotating knob is freely rotatable in both opposing directions;the rotational angles are divided into angular increments in bothrotating directions and every angular increment corresponds to one ormore path increments of the adjusting path.

The second rotating knob advantageously has a zero position from whichit is rotatable in both opposite rotating directions against a restoringforce which increases as the rotating angle increases until reaching apredetermined end position. In the zero position, the adjusting speedhas the value of zero and an increasing rotational angle in one rotatingdirection or the other corresponds to an increasing adjusting speed. Inthe respective end position, the adjusting speed reaches its maximum.

It is preferably provided that the rotational angles of the secondrotating knob are limited to a maximum of 45° by the end positions inboth opposite rotating directions.

Because of the increasing opposing force during the rotation of thesecond rotating knob to one of the end positions, this second rotatingknob returns to the zero position as soon as it is released, and thefocusing movement comes to a stop.

This results in a very user-friendly handling and it is possible tocarry out a rough adjustment by setting the adjusting speed as well as afine adjustment by setting an adjusting path length in a very sensitivemanner with the fingers of one hand, while observing through theeyepiece the sharpness of a specimen section which changes with theadjustment.

The arrangement according to the invention can also be used in anadvantageous manner at the motor-actuated support of a stereomicroscope, wherein the specimen stage is arranged in a stationarymanner as a rule, while the entire stereo microscope body 8 is to beraised and lowered for focusing purposes, which can be realized in asensitive manner and without expenditure of force in the mannerdescribed herein.

The invention will be explained more fully in the following withreference to an embodiment example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

A drawing showing the basic construction of the arrangement according tothe invention is provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the construction shown herein, a first operator's control in the formof a rotating knob 2 is provided for rough focusing. A second operator'scontrol in the form of another rotating knob 1 is used for finefocusing.

In the present context, the focusing movement is always understood asadjustment in the direction of coordinate Z or the advancing movementfor sharpness adjustment of the microscope toward a selected specimensection, for example, within the depth of a specimen.

According to the invention, it is further provided that the two rotatingknobs 1 and 2 are mounted so as to be rotatable concentrically around acommon axis 3 and are arranged directly one behind the other on thisaxis. Accordingly, for example, rotating knob 2 is located betweenrotating knob 1 and the outer surface of the housing of a microscopebody as is shown at the right-hand side of the drawing with reference tothe schematic view of a transmitted-light microscope 4. The diameter ofthe first rotating knob 1 is smaller than the diameter of the secondrotating knob 2.

Another peculiarity of the arrangement according to the inventionconsists in that the second rotating knob 2 has a zero position 5proceeding from which it can be rotated, e.g., by 45° in both oppositerotating directions. The rotation in both directions is limited by endpositions in the form of stops 6 and 7. Further, it is provided that arestoring force increases as the rotational angle increases relative tothe respective stop 6 or 7, which restoring force can be achieved, forexample, by arranging return springs between a driver at the rotatingknob 2 and a stationary device part.

In this way, the rotating knob 2 always resumes its zero position 5 whenreleased. In this connection, it is further provided that the adjustingspeed has the value of zero when the rotating knob 2 is located in thezero position 5, as a result of which the focusing movement comes to astop as soon as the rotating knob 2 is released.

The first rotating knob 1, whose diameter is less than rotating knob 2,is freely rotatable in both opposite directions, that is, no limitationsof the end positions are provided in this case and there is also norestoring force which increases as rotation increases.

As the rotating knob 1 rotates in one rotating direction or the other,an associated adjusting direction and adjusting path are given for themovement of the object stage relative to the microscope body.

In this connection, the rotating knob 1 is outfitted with an incrementalangle transmitter and every angular increment triggers the adjustmentover one or more angular increments in one movement direction or theother depending on the rotating direction by means of appropriatecontrol.

As an alternative to the arrangement of the two rotating knobs 1 and 2at the microscope housing, as is shown in the example of thetransmitted-light microscope 4 on the right-hand side of the drawing,the rotating knobs 1 and 2 can also be provided at a freely movablemanual operation device which is connected to the microscope body inthis case by a control and supply line.

The arrangement according to the invention makes possible a verysensitive and simple handling in initiating the focusing movement bydeliberate control of the motor-actuated drive in that fine focusing iscarried out by turning rotating knob 1 and rough focusing is carried outby turning rotating knob 2, in both cases with the fingers of the samehand.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent the presentinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges may be made therein without departing from the true spirit andscope of the present invention.

Reference Numbers: 1, 2 rotating knob 3 axis 4 transmitted-lightmicroscope 5 zero position 6, 7 stop Z coordinate

1. An arrangement for the manual adjustment of a focus position in amicroscope with a motor-operated focusing drive, comprising: a firstoperator's control for giving an adjusting path length in a focusingmovement; and a second operator's control for giving an adjusting speedin the focusing movement, wherein the focusing movement can beinitiated, as selected, either with the first operator's control or withthe second operator's control, wherein the first and second operator'scontrols are constructed as rotating knobs, wherein the adjustingdirection of the focusing movement is given by the rotating direction ofthe two rotating knobs, an adjusting path length for the focusingmovement is given by a rotational angle of the first rotating knob, andan adjusting speed of the focusing movement is given by the a rotationalangle of the second rotating knob, and wherein the change in therotational angle of the first rotating knob is proportional to thechange in the adjusting path and the change in the rotational angle atthe second rotating knob is proportional to the change in the adjustingspeed and, the second rotating knob has a zero position from which it isrotatable in both opposite rotating directions against a restoring forcewhich increases as the rotating angle increases until reaching apredetermined end position, wherein the adjusting speed has the value ofzero in the zero position and the adjusting speed has its maximum ineach of the end positions.
 2. The arrangement according to claim 1,wherein the two rotating knobs are arranged so as to be rotatableconcentrically around a common axis and are arranged directly one behindthe other on this axis, wherein the diameter of the first rotating knobis smaller than the diameter of the second rotating knob.
 3. Thearrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first rotating knob isfreely rotatable in both opposite rotating directions, the rotationalangles are divided into angular increments in both rotating directions,and every angular increment corresponds to one or more path incrementsof the adjusting path.
 4. The arrangement according to claim 1, whereinthe rotational angles of the second rotating knob are limited to amaximum of 45° in both opposite rotating directions.
 5. The arrangementaccording to claim 1, wherein the operator's controls are connected to acontrol device of the microscope by actuating members for generatingactuating signals depending on the rotational angle of the first andsecond rotating knobs.